Musicology is more than just a school for instrument lessons—it’s a community centered on a shared passion for music.

After a lifelong musical journey filled with fascinating stops, Jeff Hanson easily could have called it a career following a bout with cancer that nearly took his life.

Instead, he decided to give back to the community that has given him so much by opening Musicology—a music school designed to teach far more than scales and chords.

Comparable to the model established by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea at his school in California, Musicology aims to spread a love for music through structured lessons in vocals, guitar, piano, drums, woodwinds and brass for students ages 5 and above, from beginner level through advanced. It also offers songwriting courses, band development and master classes covering everything from recording and production to performance and artificial intelligence tools. Several titans in the industry join Hanson among the faculty. 

“I’ve done a lot of things in my life and this seemed like a natural progression,” he says. “Flea did something really cool in Los Angeles, and that inspired me to want to do something similar here in Florida.”

The son of a 1960s folk singer, Hanson got his own start in music as a DJ in the 1980s, opening for post-punk bands like Big Audio Dynamite and PiL. He went on to run live music venues in his hometown of Tallahassee, where he discovered the popular group Creed. He became their manager and also represented several other of rock’s biggest acts, including Alter Bridge, Sevendust and Paramore. 

After decades as a music executive, however, Hanson was forced to slow down when he was diagnosed with stage IV cancer.

“I basically had a 30% chance to survive and I was getting my affairs in order,” he says. “I got lucky and I survived, but I’m not really able to travel and do a lot of the things that I used to do. I didn’t want to retire, so I decided to do this instead. With the help of my family, we’ve been able to open Musicology.”

The school’s guitar curriculum incorporates the teaching methodology of Troy Stetina, a legendary educator who Hanson calls “the No. 1 rock guitarist in the world.” Every lesson room will feature a big-screen television so students can combine tips from Stetina’s YouTube videos with hands-on guidance from instructors.

The A-plus staff also includes Jay Stanley, a founding member of Matchbox Twenty who co-wrote the Billboard No. 1 hit “3AM.” Stanley, who has also engineered and produced albums for other bands, will teach guitar lessons and songwriting while also helping to oversee Musicology’s recording program. Mark Goff, a renowned vocal coach who has trained members of Backstreet Boys and ’N Sync, is another valued member of the team.

Hanson wants students to understand every part of today’s music industry, from recording and production to distribution. He will offer classes on Suno, showing artists how AI technology can help them create music—even if they aren’t virtuoso performers. 

“They don’t have to be uber talented at their instrument,” he says, “they just need to be armed with the knowledge to do something creative.”

In addition, students will learn how to package their music, distribute it through platforms like CD Baby and walk away with a professionally produced demo they can give to their parents as a Christmas present, show off to friends or even share with potential industry contacts.

“Students can leave our school with something tangible, which I think is really cool and inspiring,” Hanson says. “It gives kids a goal.”

Musicology will offer Parents Night Out events once a month, allowing Mom and Dad to have a date night while the kids watch classic music movies with their fellow students. The school can provide DJ services for weddings or parties, and will host meet-and-greets with national recording artists—free to students—with appearances already planned by ’N Sync’s Chris Kirkpatrick, Fuel drummer Kevin Miller and Evanescence drummer Will Hunt.

“I tried to think of everything,” Hanson says. “I want it to be like a kid in a candy store, except for music.”

And while kids make up the majority of the client base, teens and adults are welcome as well. Hanson even has a band made up of senior citizens that is taking lessons and rehearsing in the space in preparation for playing local gigs.

Hanson believes Musicology is a concept that can be franchised and opened in other parts of the state or beyond, but for now he is focusing on Orlando and the talented artists who just need an outlet to pursue their passion.

“I want this to be a place where kids actually want to hang out,” he says. “Because I’m doing this from a giving-back perspective, and the people around me are equally committed, we’re making an attempt to be all kinds of things to create a really cool culture of music.”

Musicology
Winter Garden
(407) 347-5160
MusicologyOrlando.com